Eggplant Restaurant Review: This tiny charmer tucked into a curvy stretch of Ventura Boulevard is worth knowing about, despite the overabundance of sushi bars on this street. The regular menu is relatively brief --- teriyaki, tempura, sushi and sashimi, plus some bento boxes (even a macrobiotic one) for lunch --- but the separate list of specialties is interesting and very wide-ranging. The sushi is high quality, and a couple well-marbled morsels of salmon might be brushed with miso glaze; we also like the soy-wrapped blue crab and avocado hand roll. Spicy tuna on crispy rice cakes, topped with jalapeño, may be a cliché, but they are well done, as is yellowtail carpaccio and scallops with eel sauce. Naturally, there is eggplant, whether drizzled with ponzu, tempura-fried or sautéed and served with wasabi sauce. Everything is natural, with an emphasis on healthful preparation. The small dining room is nicely decorated with a few traditional accents, and a small counter accommodates four stools. The service is sweet as can be, but sometimes slow.
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Splurging at top-rated restaurants is fun for special events, but where can you go for a good quality meal that won't break the bank? Gather the change out of your piggy bank and sofa cushions and take it to one of our selections for the best cheap eats in your area.
